Scriptures which are often quoted:
Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” . . . But He was speaking of the temple of His body. – John 2:19, 21
“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” – John 4:20-23
“But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’ “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.” – Acts 7:47-51
“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” – Acts 17:24
You are the temple of the living God. – 2 Corinthians 6:16.
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 2:4-5
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind – Romans 12:1-2
Greet also the church in their house. – Romans 16:5
The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 16:19
Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. – Colossians 4:15
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. – Acts 8:3
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, – 2 John 1:10
Church Fathers:
Let us be spiritually-minded: let us be a perfect temple to God. Barnabas (A.D. 70-130) ch.4
He says in another prophet, “Behold, said the Lord, I will take away from these, that is, from those whom the Spirit of the Lord foresaw, their stony hearts, and I will put hearts of flesh within them,” because He was to be manifested in flesh, and to sojourn among us. For, my brethren, the habitation of our heart is a holy temple to the Lord. Barnabas (A.D. 70-130) ch.6
Moreover, I will also tell you concerning the temple, how the wretched [Jews], wandering in error, trusted not in God Himself, but in the temple, as being the house of God. For almost after the manner of the Gentiles they worshipped Him in the temple. But learn how the Lord speaks, when abolishing it: “Who has meted out heaven with a span, and the earth with his palm? Have not I? Thus said the Lord, Heaven is My throne, and the earth My footstool: what kind of house will you build to Me, or what is the place of My rest?” Barnabas (A.D. 70-130) ch. 16
Let us inquire, then, if there still is a temple of God. There is – where He himself declared He would make and finish it. For it is written, “And it shall come to pass, when the week is completed, the temple of God shall be built in glory in the name of the Lord.” I find, therefore, that a temple does exist. Learn, then, how it shall be built in the name of the Lord. Before we believed in God, the habitation of our heart was corrupt and weak, as being indeed like a temple made with hands. For it was full of idolatry, and was a habitation of demons, through our doing such things as were opposed to [the will of] God. But it shall be built, observe you, in the name of the Lord, in order that the temple of the Lord may be built in glory. How? Learn [as follows]. Having received the forgiveness of sins, and placed our trust in the name of the Lord, we have become new creatures, formed again from the beginning. Wherefore in our habitation God truly dwells in us. How? His word of faith; His calling of promise; the wisdom of the statutes; the commands of the doctrine; He himself prophesying in us; He himself dwelling in us; opening to us who were enslaved by death the doors of the temple, that is, the mouth; and by giving us repentance introduced us into the incorruptible temple. Barnabas (A.D. 70-130) ch.16
He says to me, “You know that you who are the servants of God dwell in a strange land; for your city is far away from this one. If, then,” he continues, “you know your city in which you are to dwell, why do you here provide lands, and make expensive preparations, and accumulate dwellings and useless buildings? He who makes such preparations for this city cannot return again to his own. Oh foolish, and unstable, and miserable man! Do you not understand that all these things belong to another, and are under the power of another? For the lord of this city will say, ‘I do not wish you to dwell in my city; but depart from this city, because you obey not my laws.’ … “For the lord of this country justly says to you, ‘Either obey my laws or depart from my dominion.’ What, then, do you intend to do, having a law in your own city, on account of your lands, and the rest of your possessions? You shall altogether deny your law, and walk according to the law of this city. See lest it be to your hurt to deny your law; for if you shall desire to return to your city, you will not be received, because you have denied the law of your city, but will be excluded from it. Have a care, therefore: as one living in a foreign land, make no further preparations for yourself than such merely as may be sufficient; and be ready, when the master of this city shall come to cast you out for disobeying his law, to leave his city, and to depart to your own, and to obey your own law without being exposed to annoyance, but in great joy…. Instead of lands, therefore, buy afflicted souls, according as each one is able, and visit widows and orphans, and do not overlook them; and spend your wealth and all your preparations, which you received from the Lord, upon such lands and houses. For to this end did the Master make you rich, that you might perform these services unto Him; and it is much better to purchase such lands, and possessions, and houses, as you will find in your own city, when you come to reside in it. This is a noble and sacred expenditure, attended neither with sorrow nor fear, but with joy. Do not practice the expenditure of the heathen, for it is injurious to you who are the servants of God; but practice an expenditure of your own, in which you can rejoice.” – Shepherd of Hermas, Parable 1
The whole multitude both of the heathen and Jews, who dwelt at Smyrna, cried out with uncontrollable fury, and in a loud voice, “This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, and the overthrower of our gods, he who has been teaching many not to sacrifice, or to worship the gods.” – Martyrdom of Polycarp, chapter 12
Forasmuch as you are stones of a temple, which were prepared beforehand for a building of God the Father, being hoisted up to the heights through the engine of Jesus Christ, which is the Cross, and using for a rope the Holy Spirit; while your faith is your windlass, and love is the way that leads up to God. Ignatius: to the Ephesians (A.D. 35-105) ch. 9
Hasten to come together all of you, as to one temple, even God; as to one altar, even to one Jesus Christ, who came forth from One Father and is with One and departed unto One. Ignatius: to the Magnesians (A.D. 35-105) ch. 7
Rusticus the prefect said, “Where do you assemble?” Justin said, “Where each one chooses and can: for do you fancy that we all meet in the very same place? Not so; because the God of the Christians is not circumscribed by place; but being invisible, fills heaven and earth, and everywhere is worshipped and glorified by the faithful.” Rusticus the prefect said, “Tell me where you assemble, or into what place do you collect your followers?” Justin said, “I live above one Martinus, at the Timiotinian Bath; and during the whole time (and I am now living in Rome for the second time) I am unaware of any other meeting than his. And if any one wished to come to me, I communicated to him the doctrines of truth.” Rusticus said, “Are you not, then, a Christian?” Justin said, “Yes, I am a Christian.” Justin Martyr (A.D. 160) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg. 395
Whence also he says, that this handiwork is “the temple of God,” thus declaring: “Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man, therefore, will defile the temple of God, him will God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] you are.” Here he manifestly declares the body to be the temple in which the Spirit dwells. As also the Lord speaks in reference to Himself, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” He spoke this, however, it is said, “of the temple of His body.” And not only does he (the apostle) acknowledge our bodies to be a temple, but even the temple of Christ, saying thus to the Corinthians, “Know you not that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot?” He speaks these things, not in reference to some other spiritual man; for a being of such a nature could have nothing to do with an harlot: but he declares “our body,” that is, the flesh which continues in sanctity and purity, to be “the members of Christ;” but that when it becomes one with an harlot, it becomes the members of an harlot. And for this reason he said, “If any man defile the temple of God, him will God destroy.” Irenaeus (A.D. 180) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg.532
Superstition, then, as was to be expected, having taken its rise thus, became the fountain of insensate wickedness; and not being subsequently checked, but having gone on augmenting and rushing along in full flood, it became the originator of many demons, and was displayed… and building temples, which were in reality tombs: for I will not pass these over in silence, but make a thorough exposure of them, though called by the august name of temples; that is, the tombs which got the name of temples. – Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.184
What work of builders, and stonecutters, and mechanical art can be holy? …For it is not now the place, but the assemblage of the elect, that I call the Church. This temple is better for the reception of the greatness of the dignity of God. For the living creature which is of high value, is made sacred. Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.530
Pure speech and a spotless life are the throne and true temple of God. Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.581
We refuse to build lifeless temples to the Giver of all life. . . . Our bodies are the temple of God. If anyone defiles the temple of God by lust or sin, he will himself be destroyed for acting impiously towards the true temple. Of all the temples spoken of in this sense, the best and most excellent was the pure and holy body of our Savior Jesus Christ. . . . He said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it again. This He said of the temple of His body.”. . . When they reproach us for not deeming it necessary to worship the divine Being by raising lifeless temples, we set before them our temples. – Origen (c. 248, E), 4.646.
[CELSUS:] They cannot tolerate temples, altars, or images. – Origen (c. 248, E), 4.635, 636.
“Insane” would be the more appropriate word for those who hasten to temples and worship images or animals as divinities. – Origen (248 AD) Against Celsus Book 3 Chapter 76
Do you think that we conceal what we worship just because we do not have temples and altars? – Mark Minucius Felix (c. 200, W), 4.193.
You are in the habit of labelling us with a very serious charge of ungodliness for the following reasons: we do not construct temples for the ceremonies of worship, we do not set up statues and images of any god, and we do not build altars. Neither do we offer incense, sacrificial meals, or the blood of slain creatures. – Arnobius (c. 305, E), 6.506.
You say that we build no temples to [the gods] and do not worship their images. . . . Well, what greater honor or dignity could we ascribe to them than that we put them in the same position as the Head and Lord of the universe! . . . Do we honor Him with shrines and by building temples? – Arnobius (c. 305, E), 6.507.
Some were swift to slaughter [the Christians]. For example, there was a certain individual in Phrygia who burned a whole assembly of Christians, together with their place of meeting. – Lactantius (c. 304-313, W), 7.147.
[Emperor Daia] secretly procured addresses from different cities, requesting that no Christian church be built within their walls. . . . The function of those [Roman] officers was to make daily sacrifices to all of their gods and . . . to prevent Christians from erecting churches. Lactantius (c. 304–313, W), 7.315.
While it was yet hardly light, the [Roman] prefect, together with chief commanders . . . came to the church in Nicomedia. The gates having been forced open, they searched everywhere for an image of the Divinity. The books of the Holy Scriptures were found, and they were committed to the flames. The utensils and furniture of the church were abandoned to pillage. Lactantius (c. 320, W), 7.305.
Constantius . . . permitted the demolition of churches, which are mere walls and capable of being built up again. However, he preserved entire that true temple of God, which is the human body. Lactantius (c. 320, W), 7.306.
Moreover, with respect to the Christians, we formerly gave certain orders concerning the places set aside for their religious assemblies. However, now we resolve that all persons who have purchased such places, either from our treasurer, or from anyone else, must restore them to the Christians, without money demanded or price claimed. . . . All those places are, by your intervention, to be immediately restored to the Christians. And it appears that, in addition to the places set aside for religious worship, the Christians possessed other places (which belonged to the society in general, not to individuals). These we include in the aforesaid regulations. – Lactantius (c. 320, E), 7.320, quoting from the Edict of Milan.
AFTER NICAEA:
… He addressed himself as follows, to one who was the best and most pious of bishops, and by whose zeal principally the temple in Tyre, by far the most noble in Phœnicia, was built. [A] panegyric on the building of the churches, addressed to Paulinus, bishop of Tyre: “Friends, and priest of God, and ye who are clad in the sacred gown, adorned with the celestial crown of glory, the inspired unction and sacerdotal garment of the Holy Spirit. And thou, O excellent ornament of this new and holy temple of God….” – Eusebius, An Ecclesiastical History To The 20th Year Of The Reign Of Constantine, CHAPTER IV